Date: Fri, 5 May 2023 01:00:00 -0700 From: John Henry Subject: Growing Up Ry Chapter 3 (Gay/Incest) DONATION: Nifty is a not-for-profit organization that heavily relies on our donations to keep the site free and accessible. Your donations pay for web hosting fees and other day-to-day activities for the wonderful staff of editors/publishers. You can donate on the website at http://donate.nifty.org/ Every little bit counts. DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, and contains explicit, sexual content involving adults over the age of 21 and minors under the age of 18, with scenes of incest involving step-parents/step-children, and sibilings. If viewing this material is illegal where you live, OR you're a minor under the age of 18, please stop reading this. If you're not sure about this legatilty, please stop reading until you have looked into your own, local laws. Any likeness or similarity between persons, places, products or concepts are purely coincidental. AUTHOR'S NOTE: After working on several books/chapters, I won't myself and everyone to be on the same page regarding the timeline of the story. First, this story takes place in early December about four years after Growing Up Charlie started. Charlie is now 14 turning 15 in the spring, with Billy and Ry being 20, with Ry's 21st birthday coming up at the end of the month. I hope that clarifies everything for everyone. If you would like to leave any positive feedback, please let me know. Thank you. Chapter 3 The afternoon went by quickly. Charlie felt a little queasy but otherwise well. He, however, began to dread the next time he felt the need for the methadone. He occupied his time talking to Ry and taking care of his baby girl. Ry was impressed with how willing Charlie was to do everything for little Bethany. Charlie was a mostly responsible kid, but fatherhood amplified that drive. Ry watched as Charlie changed diapers, handled feedings and insisted on setting up the nursery (his old room). Ronda was annoyed, being the control freak she was, but ultimately gave in to her son's demands. Trevor and Ronda brought back everything on their list along with clothes and hygiene supplies for Charlie. Ry promised to take Charlie to get new shoes once the roads cleared. Charlie hadn't worn new clothes in months, and even those were still from thrift stores. Ry made dinner: homemade pizza. Trevor declined the invite having made plans with Billy and Rick at their house. Rick was in a mood, so Billy was hoping that a small dinner with just the three of them would help ease the tension. Ry tried very hard not to roll his eyes. He wondered if Rick and Billy were fucking behind Trevor's back while he was out. It had been close to five years since he discovered the truth about his younger brother and father. He still had very strong and very hard feelings about it. Nobody knew the real reason why he had stopped talking to Billy and Rick, and he never really bothered explaining. To keep from creating a lot of friction, Ry slowly distanced himself to the point of no contact. Occasionally, Billy would send a text, but Ry rarely messaged back and, when he did, it was always through Trevor. For his part, Trevor never asked. It was hard not to notice the trembling. Charlie had managed to hold off his symptoms for most of the day; however, as the night progressed, he could feel the cravings come back and his body rejecting his sobriety. Ry ran him a bath and made some tea for the jitters but knew it wouldn't truly help. Ronda took Bethany to the nursery before going to be herself. "You know you're a great, big brother, right?" She said as they passed in the hall. "So I've been told," he replied, unable to hide his own sense of failed responsibility. "I know it's hard to accept, but it isn't your fault. I've spent years beating myself up over what happened to Billy and Charlie, so trust me, there's nothing you should feel guilty about. There isn't a day that has gone by that I wasn't glad I made Billy talk to you at that barbecue." It took Ry a second to remember the first day he had met his soon-to-be ex-boyfriend/adopted brother. It was at a cookout at the house of a man who was sexually molesting Billy. Ronda had made Billy talk to Ry. Even from across the yard, Ry could tell that Billy didn't want to. Ry was a huge nerd and introvert, and although Billy wasn't exactly popular, he was still in higher social circles. In the end, though, Ronda won out, and Ry's life became entangled with the Barton Family, for better or worse. "I'm glad you did, too," he said. "I'd probably be dead, otherwise." They shared a hug before going their separate ways. Charlie was just getting into the tub as Ry closed the door behind him. Although Ry had given the teen a sponge bath the night before, Ry didn't do a good look at his brother. In the brighter light of the room, he could see several bruises and scars. "I'll put your tea over here," Ry said, moving toward the counter, before taking a seat on the toilet. "Thanks," Charlie said, sinking back into the tub and closing his eyes. They sat in silence for several minutes. Ry had a million questions and didn't know where to start, so he started with a tough one. "Are you sure you're Bethany's father?" Charlie groaned. He knew he'd be asked but thought it would've been from his mother. "Yes, Ry, I'm sure." "How are you sure?" "I had sex. Unless Health class lied to me, I'm fairly certain that's how babies are made." "Ha ha," Ry chided. "I mean, are you sure you're the father? Was she with someone else and got pregnant, or was pregnant before you two had sex?" Charlie had to think about it. "I don't think she was with anyone else." "But you can't say for certain?" "No," Charlie sighed, "I can't say for certain. That night was...a haze." Charlie didn't like thinking about it, let alone talking about it. It reminded him of too many painful memories that he wished he could forget. However, it was Ry, and Charlie knew he could trust him more than anyone else. "I made some friends at a shelter. We went to a party and got drunk. Milo constantly made fun of me for not having a girlfriend, and I was too afraid to tell anyone that I like boys." Charlie paused. He and Ry had never discussed Charlie's sexuality so directly and honestly before. They had once talked about sex and sexuality at the early days of Justin's abuse, but Charlie did his best to hide the truth and allowed Ry to make inferences. "Anyway, Milo introduced me to Sammy about a month before, and we became friends. Milo made fun of me for being a virgin, since he didn't know about any of the boys I had been with. "Milo kept giving me and Sammy drinks and hinting that we should hook up. Sammy seemed into it, so I went along with it. The next thing I know I'm on the floor of some bedroom and Sammy is on top of me while Milo and other guys are watching and cheering. "About a month later, Sammy tells me she missed her period. We get some tests, then see a doctor, and the rest is history." Ry sat in silence, listening to his brother's story, digesting what he could. Charlie was an easy push over for acceptance, especially when his insecurities were triggered; it's how Justin got his claws into the little boy. "Did you use a condom?" "I don't remember," Charlie said, feeling ashamed. "I was too drunk to notice or care. I'm honestly surprised I got off." "Is that when you started doing the drugs?" Ry asked. "No," Charlie admitted. "I started smoking weed before I ran away, and the other stuff came after hanging out with Milo." "Ever do heroin?" "Once." Tears trickled down Charlie's face. "I didn't like the high or lack of control, so I quit. Milo said that it would be easier to switch to methadone, but I got addicted to that instead. I don't think I would've become addicted to H, but I can't seem to quit the other shit." "So, you and Sammy were addicts together then?" Charlie nodded. "When she found out she was pregnant, we both quit. We knew she couldn't stay sober if I wasn't, and honestly, I don't want to be on drugs anymore. Last night was the first time since we found out that I used. I didn't want to, but I found Sammy's stash and couldn't stop myself. I knew I was in trouble and Bethany deserved better, which is why I came here." "Home," Ry corrected. "You came home." Charlie nodded and started to sob. Ry sat next to the tub and held Charlie not caring that he was getting wet from the bath water. Once Charlie calmed down, Ry insisted on a paternity test. Charlie protested, but Ry wouldn't let it go. "If Bethany isn't yours, you can't keep her. She'll have grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members who can take care of her. If she is yours, we'll need to figure things out." "But a judge won't let me keep her," Charlie countered. "I'm a minor, with no job and a drug history." "We'll work it out, I promise." Ry kissed Charlie's forehead and pulled him back into a hug. "You need to go into rehab, Charlie, and you'll need to stay until they release you this time. The pills were one thing, but methadone and heroin are something completely different. A judge will take Bethany away if you don't get sober." "I know," Charlie said, squeezing Ry. "It's just so hard." "Mom, Trevor and I are here for you. We won't let you fail." Neither missed that Rick's and Billy's names were absent from that list of support people. Like Ry, Charlie didn't want anything to do with his dad and elder half-brother. Unlike Ry, Charlie didn't bother to hide his reasons. Although there was a time when everyone was happy, after Will's death, Rick became a different person and Billy made every excuse he could for their father. Charlie's resentment over the way he was treated before his abduction festered to a boil, and Charlie went back to blaming them for the abuse and torture he suffered at the hands of Billy's ex-boyfriend. "I love you," Charlie said, still holding Ry close. "I love you, too." Ry kissed Charlie on the head, before pulling away and reaching for a washcloth. ***Coming Soon, Chapter 4***